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AUTOBIOGRAPHY 


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-OF 


,  ALFRED  LEONARD  EDWARD  WEEKS 


AND 


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ANNIE  ELIZABETH  COOKE  WEEKS 


Principal  and  Wife 


OF  THE 


i  Bern  Collegiate  Industrial  Institute 

New  Bern,  N.  C. 


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REV.  ALFRED  LEONARD  EDWARD  WEEKS 

Born  July  20th,  1875 

Educated  at  Elizabeth  City  State  Normal  and 
Shaw  University.  Became  pastor  of  the 
First  Baptist  Church,  May  1900,  which 
position  he  still  holds.  Founder 
and  Principal  of  the  New  Bern 
Collegiate  Industrial  Insti¬ 
tute,  New  Bern,  N.  C. 


oo 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2019  with  funding  from 
University  of  North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


https://archive.org/details/autobiographyofrOOweek 


A  Sketch  of  the  Life  and  Character  of 
Rev.  Alfred  Leonard  Edward  Weeks. 

Alfred  Leonard  Edward  Weeks,  the 
subject  of  this  article,  was  born  in 
Mount  Olive,  Wayne  County,  North 
Carolina,  on  July  20th,  1875.  He  is 
the  son  of  Alfred  and  Laura  Weeks, 
ex-slaves,  who  still  live  in  that  place. 
The  humble  home  of  his  parents  is 
situated  in  the  Southern  section  of 
Mount  Olive,  in  a  neighborhood  called 
Hillsboro.  His  father,  having  been 
sold  several  times  in  the  days  of  slav¬ 
ery,  helped  to  build  the  fortification 
around  Richmond,  Va.,  during  the  Ci¬ 
vil  War.  He  was  very  poor  and  not 
able  to  give  his  twelve  children  any 
advantages,  educationally,  aside  from 
those  found  in  the  public  schools — 
(which  were  very  few.) 

When  quite  young,  Alfred  Leonard 
was  placed  at  school  in  the  country, 
where  before  he  was  twelve  years  of 
age,  his  mind  was  the  subject  of  re¬ 
ligious  impressions;  although  at  the 
time  he  was  ignorant  of  their  source, 
he  was  afterward  made  sensible  that 
it  was  the  Lord’s  Holy  Spirit  that  had 
thus  early  visited  him.  And  when 
about  nine  years  of  age,  his  fa¬ 
ther  happened  to  the  accident  of 


4 

cutting  his  foot  nearly  off,  and  thus 
he  was  not  able  for  a  long  time,  to 
assist  in  caring  for  the  twelve  chil¬ 
dren  of  the  home. 

Because  of  the  accident  above  spok¬ 
en  of,  his  mother,  Mrs.  Laura  Weeks, 
was  compelled  to  hire  herself  to  hotels 
or  individual  families  as  cook,  until 
the  children  became  old  enough  to 
help  her.  The  children  were  reared 
therefore,  from  the  crumbs  which  fell 
from  the  tables  at  the  places  wherever 
she  worked. 

After  attaining  his  twelfth  year,  he 
entered  school  at  Wynn’s  Chapel, 
where  he  prosecuted  his  studies,  under 
the  direction  of  Rev.  A.  A.  Smith,  for 
about  three  years.  During  this  period 
his  mind  was  often  drawn  into  serious¬ 
ness,  and  although  his  quick  and  lively 
disposition,  and  the  many  temptations 
to  which  he  was  exposed,  sometimes 
led  him  astray,  yet  he  was  mercifully 
preserved  from  many  of  the  snares 
into  which  the  young  and  inexperienc¬ 
ed  too  often  fall.  Much  credit  should 
be  given  to  Rev.  A.  A.  Smith  for  his 
private  tutelage  during  these  three 
years. 

On  August  3rd,  in  1890,  being  15 
years  old,  he  joined  the  Free  Will 
Baptist  Church,  at  Mount  Olive.  He 


0 


pursued  his  studies  with  great  dili¬ 
gence  and  success,  but  his  tender  mind 
was  much  shocked  at  the  dissipation 
and  wickedness  which  prevailed  a- 
mong  the  members,  and  by  obedience 
to  the  secret  checks  and  limitations 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  he  was  preserved 
from  participating  in  the  gross  corrup¬ 
tions  around  him.  Soon  after  he  joined 
the  church,  under  the  living  and  pow¬ 
erful  influence  of  the  Gospel,  Alfred 
Leonard  Edward’s  spiritual  condition 
was  effectually  reached:  the  witness 
for  God  in  his  own  heart,  owning  and 
answering  the  testimony.  The  impres¬ 
sions  which  had  been  early  made  be¬ 
ing  thus  renewed  and  strengthened, 
fresh  desires  after  holiness  were  be¬ 
gotten  in  his  soul.  In  this  seeking 
frame  of'mind,  he  was  led  to  perceive 
the  emptiness  and  formality  which 
prevailed  among  his  people  in  their 
religion;  and  finding  some  of  his  fel¬ 
low  associates  of  similar  views,  they 
held  religious  meetings  among  them¬ 
selves  in  their  private  homes.  This 
greatly  offended  the  heads  of  the 
church,  who  charged  him  with  non¬ 
conformity.  Alfred  Leonard  Edward, 
however,  believing  his  principles  and 
practices  were  founded  in  truth,  and 
essential  to  his  peace  of  mind,  could 


6 

not  abandon  them;  and  as  his  deter¬ 
mination  was  unalterable,  he  was 
forced  to  move  his  membership  to 
the  Missionary  Baptist  Church,  where 
the  gravity  of  his  deportment,  and 
correct  conduct,  indicated  that  the 
good  work  so  early  begun  in  him,  was 
gradually  going  forward.  He  refrain¬ 
ed  from  associating  with  the  fashion¬ 
able  world,  or  mingling  with  its  vain 
amusements,  but  took  great  delight 
in  the  company  of  the  most  grave  and 
sober  persons.  His  relatives  viewed  his 
conduct  with  great  disapprobation. 
Alfred  Leonard  Edward’s  thirst,  how¬ 
ever,  was  not  for  earthly  glory,  but 
heavenly;  “he  chose  rather  to  suffer 
affliction  with  the  people  of  God,  than 
to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a 
season;”  and  though  it  grieved  him 
to  disobey  his  earthly  friends,  he  felt 
that  it  would  be  far  worse  to  resist 
the  will  of  his  Father  in  Heaven. 

This  church  and  pastor,  however, 
soon  perceived  that  the  young  man’s 
ambitions  were  worthy  of  encouarge- 
ment,  and  he  was  therefore  licensed 
to  preach  the  Gospel  at  the  age  of  17 
years. 

The  Lord  had  better  things  in  store 
for  him,  even  the  things  that  accom¬ 
pany  salvation;  and  soon  after  he 


7 

moved  his  membership,  the  visitations 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  his  soul  were 
renewed,  the  glories  of  this  world 
were  stained  in  his  view,  and  all  of 
its  pleasant  pictures  spoiled. 

In  reference  to  this  period  of  his 
life,  he  says:  “Now  was  all  the  glory 
of  this  world  as  a  buble;  yea  nothing 
was  dear  to  me  that  I  might  win 
Christ;  for  the  love,  pleasure,  and 
friendship  of  this  world  were  a  bur¬ 
den  to  my  soul.  In  this  seeking  state 
I  was  directed  to  the  testimony  of 
Jesus  in  my  own  conscience  as  the 
true  shining  light,  given  me  to  dis¬ 
cern  the  thoughts  and  intents  of  my 
own  heart.  And  no  sooner  was  I 
turned  unto  it  but  I  found  it  to  he 
that  which  from  my  childhood  had 
visited  me,  though  I  distinctly  knew 
it  not.” 

On  July  15th,  1892,  he  presented 
himself  to  the  County  Superintendent 
of  Public  Instruction  of  Wayne  Coun¬ 
ty,  as  an  applicant  for  a  certificate 
to  teach  school  in  the  public  school 
of  that  county.  Having  finished  his 
examination  the  county  examiner 
said:  “What  does  your  father  do?” 
“He  is  a  blacksmith,”  was  the  reply. 
“You  are  black  enough”,  said  the  ex¬ 
aminer,  “  and  you  will  only  have  to 


8 

get  the  smith.  Your  answers  are 
good  and  you  have  made  good  marks 
on  all  of  the  branches,  but  your  age 
will  prevent  you  from  receiving  a 
certificate.”  “Thank  you,  I  will  try 
again,”  was  the  reply.  On  returning 
home  Alfred  Leonard  Edward  spent 
August  and  September  in  attending 
revival  meetings,  and  reviewing  the 
branches  taught  in  the  public  school 
in  North  Carolina,  and  on  October 
the  12th,  early  in  the  morning,  he  left 
his  home  with  his  coat  on  his  shoul¬ 
der,  and  covered  the  distance  from 
Mount  Olive,  N.  C.,  to  Kinston,  N.  C. 
(which  is  40  miles)  for  the  purpose 
of  taking  examination  on  the  14th. 
Having  taken  examination,  he  made  a 
good  certificate,  and  on  the  day  after 
the  examination,  he  walked  from  Kin¬ 
ston  to  LaGrange,  a  distance  of  about 
12  miles,  where  he  secured  a  school 
to  teach. 

The  school  committee  decided  that 
the  schooj  should  not  open  until  the 
first  Monday  in  the  following  Decem¬ 
ber,  and  run  for  three  months  at  a 
salary  of  $20.00  per  month. 

On  being  told  the  decision  of  the 
committee,  he  walked  back  to  Kinston 
N.  C.,  and  hired  himself  to  the  author¬ 
ities  of  that  town  as  a  street  hand 


9 

for  75  cents  per  day.  Having  worked 
here  until  the  first  of  December,  he 
sent  one  half  of  his  earnings  to  his 
mother  at  Mount  Olive,  and  fitted  him¬ 
self  for  his  winter’s  work  with  the 
remainder,  after  having  paid  all  of  his 
bills.  Having  taught  the  school  be¬ 
fore  mentioned  in  the  winter  of  1892 — 
93,  he  returned  to  Mount  Olive,  where 
he  had  only  $5.00  of  his  winter’s  earn¬ 
ings  left,  after  having  divided  with 
his  parents.  He  purchased  two  acres 
of  land,  which  cost  $100,  and  paid 
the  $5.00  on  the  purchase  price.  The 
summer  was  spent  in  grubbing  and 
making  ready  one  of  these  acres  for 
the  truck  farm  (strawberry  crop.  ) 
Having  planted  this  crop,  he  again 
taught  the  public  school  at  LaGrange 
N.  C.,  in  the  winter  1893 — 94,  after 
which  he  went  to  Elizabeth  City,  and 
attended  the  State  Normal  School  for 
two  years,  1894 — 95  and  1995 — 96. 
During  the  time  he  was  in  attendance 
at  the  State  Normal  School  at  Eliza¬ 
beth  City,  he  managed  to  pay  his  way 
through  this  school  by  teaching  public 
school  in  Perquiman  county.  Having 
finished  at  this  school  he  next  went 
to  Shaw  University,  Raleigh,  N.  C., 
to  take  Theology.  Having  to  divide 
his  earnings  with  his  parents,  he 


10 

could  not  stay  in  school  an  entire 
session  at  any  time,  however,  he 
would  teach  two  or  three  months  dur¬ 
ing  the  winter,  and  remain  in  school 
unti  lthe  middle  of  April,  and  then 
go  home  to  see  about  his  strawber¬ 
ries.  The  following  summer,  after 
the  first  session  he  attended  Shaw 
University,  was  spent  in  selling  goods 
as  an  agent,  and  about  the  last  of 
September  he  had  above  $200.00  worth 
of  goods  stolen  from  him.  He  had 
worked  hard  to  get  back  to  school, 
and  had  saved  his  money,  but  a  few 
days  before  the  time  for  him  to  leave 
for  school,  was  compelled  to  send 
all  of  his  summer’s  earnings  to  the 
company  to  which  the  goods  belonged, 
beuce  the  goods  hod  been  sent  him 
on  30  days  time,  and  he  felt  when 
the  time  was  out  the  debt  must  be 
paid.  Sending  his  trunk  on  to  Rol- 
eigh,  N.  C.,  and  walking  from  Mount 
Olive,  N.  C.,  to  Selma,  N.  C.,  a  dis¬ 
tance  of  40  miles,  he  boarded  a  train 
for  Raleigh,  riding  33  miles,  where 
he  hoped  to  enter  Shaw  University, 
although  all  of  his  money  was*  paid 
out  to  save  his  credit,  and  his  heart 
was  aching  because  he  had  only  two 
dollars  with  which  to  pay  the  first 
month’s  expenses  (for  the  first 


1] 


month’s  expenses  were  $9.00 — $7.00 
for  board,  lodging  and  tuition  and 
$2.00  incidental  expenses  for  the  year) 
Having  arrived  at  Shaw  University 
and  having  told  of  his  summer’s  work 
together  with  what  had  befallen  him 
a  few  days  before  the  day  on  which 
he  was  to  leave  his  home  for  school, 
he  was  allowed  to  enter  by  paying 
$2.00  which  was  all  the  money  he 
had.  Having  entered  the  University, 
the. number  of  his  acquaintances  in¬ 
creased,  and  thereby  his  way  grew 
more  difficult;  though  he  had  found 
comfort  in  reading  the  Holy  Scrip¬ 
tures,  and  thinking  on  Heavenly, 
things  he  was  now  trying  to  see  just 
where  the  other  $7.00  to  pay  the  bal¬ 
ance  of  the  present  month’s  expenses, 
will  come  from,  and  how  he  was  to 
stay  in  school  another  month.  But 
it  had  pleased  the  Lord  to  call  him 
into  the  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry. 
As  a  messenger  of  glad  tidings  of  life 
and  salvation,  he  would  leave  the 
University  each  Friday  evening  for 
some  place  where  he  had  secured  an 
appointment  to  preach,  having  bor¬ 
rowed  from  some  of  his  teachers,  the 
money  with  which  to  go.  The  going 
away  from  the  University  each  week 
only  prepared  him  for  his  future  use- 


12 

fulness,  as  he  never  was  able  to  se¬ 
cure  enough  to  pay  any  of  his  bills. 

The  following  spring,  the  straw¬ 
berry  crop  failed  and  the  young  man 
had  many  debts  at  home,  which  caus¬ 
ed  him  more  worry.  Rev.  A.  A.  Smith 
at  this  time,  took  in  charge  the  land, 
and  house,  which  Mr.  Weeks  had  had 
erected,  paying  the  partise  to  keep 
them  from  harming  the  young  man. 
During  the  following  summer,  the 
time  was  spent  in  ditching,  grubbing, 
picking  berries,  picking  cotton  or  any¬ 
thing  to  obtain  honest  money,  with 
which  to  pay  debts  and  return  to 
school.  The  summer  was  so  short 
that  the  time  came  to  enter  school 
before  the  debts  were  paid,  and  so 
what  money  had  been  made,  was  di¬ 
vided  among  those  to  whom  he  was 
obligated,  and  he  returned  to  school 
with  more  financial  burdens  than  be¬ 
fore.  However,  he  kept  full  of  life 
and  kept  trying  to  make  himself. 
Having  entered  this  time  with  more 
obligations,  he  nevertheless  tried,  as 
best  he  could,  under  the  existing  con¬ 
ditions,  to  do  his  best  in  his  studies, 
On  March  3rd,  1900  he  was  called  to 
the  pastorate  of  the  Cedar  Grove  Bap¬ 
tist  Church,  (now  First  Baptist 
Church)  of  New  Bern,  N.  C.,  where 


he  has  been  since  that  time.  Arriv¬ 
ing  in  New  Bern  and  remaining  there 
as_  pastor  from  the  1st  of  May  1900  to 
the  1st  of  May,  1902,  where  the  school 
accommodations  were  very  poor,  for 
his  people,  he  decided  that  if  the  Gos¬ 
pel  is  to  be  preached  effectually  the 
intellectual  and  industrial  conditions 
of  his  people  must  be  improved,  and 
brought  up  to  a  standard  where  they 
can  appropriate  the  teachings  to  them 
selves  individually.  Hence  the  birth 
of  the  school,  which  was  founded  by 
him,  and  which  was  chartered  on  the 
7th  day  of  May  1902. 

The  first  session  of  the  New  Bern 
Collegiate  Industrial  Institute  began 
on  October  6,  1902,  with  an  enroll¬ 
ment  of  about  300  pupils,  and  three 
teachers,  namely,  Rev.  A.  L.  E.  Weeks, 
Prof.  J.  M.  B.  Wooten,  and  Miss  Annie 
Elizabeth  Cooke.  The  property,  known 
in  New  Bern,  as  the  old  Fair  Grounds 
was  purchased  at  a  cost  of  $12,500 
on  which  was  erected  a  two-story 
frame  building  40x65  feet,  containing 
four  class  roooms  down  stairs,  and 
an  assembly  room  up-stairs.  Rev. 
Weeks  was  assisted  by  the  generous 
citizens  of  the  community,  and  by 
friends  in  the  North,  in  providing  the 
running  expenses  of  the  institution, 


14 


to  some  extent,  but  at  no  time  has  he 
been  able  to  pay  the  bills  when  they 
came  due  or  to  close  the  school  any 
session  free  of  debt,  from  a  point  of 
running  expenses.  The  teachers  have 
been  very  considerate,  have  work¬ 
ed  very  faithfully  to  assist  principle 
Weeks  in  carrying  out  his  idea  in  this 
school. 

On  July  22,  1903,  Rev.  Weeks  mar¬ 
ried  Miss  Annie  Elizabeth  Cooke,  of 
Wake  Forest,  N.  C.,  whose  autobiog¬ 
raphy  is  herein  printed.  Rev.  A.  L. 
E.  Weeks  and  wife,  Mrs.  Annie  Eliza¬ 
beth  Cooke  Weeks,  have  been  work¬ 
ing  together  in  this  institute  since 
their  marriage.  Both  the  church  and 
school,  with  which  they  are  connected 
have  made  all  the  progress  they  could 
possibly  make.  To  make  the  school 
a  success  Rev.  Weeks  has  travelled 
through  the  surrounding  community, 
and  through  the  North,  but  there  have 
been  so  many  beggars  for  similar 
institutions  that  the  substantial  de¬ 
velopment  of  the  school  has  been  very 
slow.  However,  the  ground  purchased 
has  been  paid  for,  a  part  of  which 
was  sold  to  satisfy  the  claims  against 
the  other.  The  enterprise  is  very 
much  in  need  of  dormitories,  for  boys 
and  girls.  Rev.  Weeks  believes  that 


15 


the  work  of  spreading  and  deepen¬ 
ing  education  in  the  South  must  be, 
continued  through  such  institutions 
as  Tuskegee,  Hampton,  the  New  Bern 
Collegiate  Industrial  Institute  and 
many  others.  The  reader  asks  how 
can  I  help?  The  most  pressing  needs 
of  the  school  are  as  follows:  Money 
for  an  administration  building;  and 
dormitories;  50.00  a  year  for  annual 
scholarshps  for  the  training  of  one 
student  a  year;  $1,000  for  permanent 
scholarships;  money  for  current  ex¬ 
penses  in  any  amounts,  however, 
small,  and  an  endowment  fund.  Too 
much  credit  cannot  be  given  to  Hons. 
T.  A.  Green,  J.  B.  Blades,  W.  B. 
Blades,  J.  A.  Meadows  and  wife,  C, 
W.  Munger,  I.  H.  Smith,  Mayor  James 
A.  Bryan,  and  many  others  in  New 
Bern,  N.  C.,  as  well  as  The  American 
Baptist  Home  Mission  Society  of  New 
York,  headed  by  Rev.  H.  L.  More¬ 
house,  D.  D.,  and  other  friends  through 
the  North  for  the  assistance  they  have 
rendered  the  Institute. 

On  February  28,  1906,  the  congre¬ 
gation  of  the  First  Baptist  Church, 
of  which  Rev.  Weeks  is  pastor,  lost 
its  house  of  worship,  and  in  16 
months  the  friends  of  the  church  were 
called  on  to  dedicate  a  new  brick 


16 

structure  42x72  feet,  having  two 
stories.  At  this  dedication,  the  main 
auditorium  was  finished,  all  but  the 
painting.  The  Church  on  November 
30,  1907,  owed  a  debt  of  $2,250,  hav¬ 
ing  raised  from  February  28,  1906  to 
that  date  the  difference  between 
$8,000  and  $2,250  or  $4,750.  This  is 
very  remarkable  when  it  is  known 
that  this  congregation  is  made  up  of 
common  laborers,  who  receive  an 
average  of  $1.00  per  day  for  their 
labor. 

Rev.  Weeks  is  still  working  at  New 
Bern  as  head  of  the  school  and  pastor 
of  the  Church  spoken  of  above.  He 
said  to  a  friends  a  few  days  ago,  “I 
shall  seek  to  make  life  henceforth,  a 
consecrated  thing;  that  so,  when  the 
sunset  is  nearing,  with  its  murky  va¬ 
pors  and  lowering  skies,  the  very 
clouds  of  sorrow  may  be  fringed  with 
golden  light.  Thus  will  the  song  in 
the  house  of  my  pilgrimage  be  always 
the  truest  harmony.  It  will  be  com¬ 
posed  of  no  jarring,  discordant  notes; 
but  with  all  its  varied  tones,  will 
form  one  substance,  life-long  melody; 
dropped  for  a  moment  in  death,  only 
to  be  resumed  with  the  angels,  and 
blended  with  the  everlasting  cadence 
of  my  Father’s  house.  His  motto  is; 


17 


“Take  me,  O  my  Father,  take  me! 

Take  me,  save  me,  through  Thy  Son; 
That  which  Thou  wouldst  have  me, 
make  me, 

Let  Thy  will  in  me  be  done. 

“The  highest  glory  is  not  where, 

’Mid  crimson  clouds,  the  fight  is  won; 
’Tis  to  reclaim  the  erring  son, 

Long  used  the  sinful  yoke  to  bear.” 

•  • 
The  highest  benedictions  hide 
Where  sacrifice  is  pure  and  true; 

And  our  poor  self-denials,  too, 

If  done  for  Christ,  in  Him  abide.’ 


n  • 


Life  of  Mrs.  A.  Elizabeth  Cooke  Weeks 
wife  of  the  President  of  New  Bern 
Collegiate  Industrial  Institute. 

I  was  born,  December  4,  1875,  in  a 
little  log  cabin  on  a  plantation  known 
as  the  Brooks’  plantation  in  a  little 
town  seventeen  miles  north  of  Ral¬ 
eigh,  known  as  Wake  Forest,  Wake 
County,  N.  C.  My  father.  Rev.  Hen¬ 
derson  Cooke  (who  still  lives,)  is,  and 
has  always  been  since  I  have  known 
him,  an  honest  Christian  farmer  and 
shoemaker.  Though  not  educated, 
yet  ere  the  shackles  of  slavery  were 
loosed  from  him  he  learned  to  read 
and  write,  and  after  freedom  became 
a  minister  of  the  gospel.  He  has  al¬ 
ways  been  known  for  his  honesty  and 
pure  Christian  character.  My  mother, 
Mariah  D.  Cooke,  a  virtuous  Christian 
woman,  noted  for  her  straightforward 
Christian  disposition,  has  always  put 
forth  the  most  earnest  efforts  to  rear 
her  children  to  be  honorable  men  and 
women. 

We  lived  in  the  little  log  cabin  of 
which  I  have  spoken  until  I  was  four 
weeks,  old,  then  we  moved  to  another 
house,  this  also  being  a  log  cabin,  but 
with  a  little  more  room.  One  large 


20 

room  downstaiars,  a  small  one  up- 
tairs,  and  a  kitchen.  We  remained 
here  until  I  was  more  than  two  years 
old.  During  this  time  my  father  had 
bought  52-100  of  an  acre  of  land  and 
put  a  thre-room  house  on  it,  not  of 
logs  but  of  weather  boarding.  We 
then  moved  into  this  house,  and  my 
father  would  rent  land  on  which  to 
farm.  At  the  age  of  five  my  mother 
allowed  me  to  go  to  school  with  the 
teacher  who  boarded  not  very  far 
from  our  house,  as  I  was  too  small 
to  go  alone,  and  the  children  were 
working  on  the  farm. 

To  my  teacher,  I  feel  a  great  deal 
is  due,  for  I  learned  very  fast,  to  the 
delight  of  both  my  teacher  (Dr.  N.  F. 
Roberts,  who  is  now  Vice-Presi¬ 
dent  of  Shaw  University)  and  of  my 
parents.  Here  I  received  encourage¬ 
ment  therefore.  When  quite  a  little 
girl  in  the  public  school  I  had  a  great 
desire  for  an  education  that  I  might 
make  a  useful  woman  of  myself.  Be¬ 
ing  the  fifth  child  of  a  family  of  thir¬ 
teen  children  whose  parents  were  very 
poor,  there  seemed  to  be  no  possible 
chance  for  me  to  accomplish  my  aim. 
The  public  schools  would  run  from 
four  to  five  months,  but  my  father 
being  a  farmer  could  only  spare  us 


21 

from  the  farm  about  two  or  three 
months  during  the  year.  However 
anxious  I  might  have  been,  I  saw  no 
way  of  succeeding  without  some  spe¬ 
cial  effort  being  put  forth. 

Just  at  this  time  I  came  across  two 
stories  headed  thus:  “Where  there’s 
a  will  there’s  a  way,”  and  “I’ll  find 
a  way  or  make  it.”  Then  and  there  I 
decided  that  1  had  the  “will,”  and  if 
no  one  else  should  open  the  way  for 
men,  I’d  find  a  way  or  make  it.  With 
this  in  mind,  then  came  the  thought. 
“Seek  ye  first  the  kingdom  of  God  and 
Hs  righteousness  and  all  these  things 
shall  be  added  unto  you.”  At  the  age 
of  nine,  I  accepted  Christ.  It  was 
then  that  I  learned  that  with  an  ear¬ 
nest  effort  and  faith  in  God  much 
could  be  accomplished. 

Many  days  from  morn  till  night 
have  I  hoed  the  cotton  and  corn  or  fol¬ 
lowed  the  reaper  to  bind  the  sheaves, 
praying  to  God  that  some  way  might 
open  that  I  might  be  able  to  accom¬ 
plish  my  education. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  I  entered  Shaw 
University.  After  remaining  there 
nearly  two  months  I  succeeded  in 
making  a  certificate  and  taught  as  an 
assistant  in  a  public  school  for  five 
months  at  a  salary  of  $15  a  month. 


22 

This  I  gave  to  my  father  to  help  him, 
and  he  permitted  me  to  return  to 
Shaw  that  session  and  remain  the 
balance  of  the  term,  which  was  about 
five  weeks. 

The  next  year,  October,  1893,  I  en¬ 
tered  Shaw  and  remained  four  weeks; 
then  was  called  home  on  account  of 
the  sickness  of  my  mother  and  had 
to  remain  home  four  months.  Dur¬ 
ing  this  time  my  mother  kept  very 
sick.  My  oldest  sister  was  married, 
my  next  older  sister  was  dead,  the 
other  two  children  who  were  my  sen¬ 
iors  were  boys,  so  the  household 
duties  all  fell  on  me.  Then  it  was 
that  I  waited  on  my  mother,  cooked, 
washed,  ironed,  looked  after  the  mend¬ 
ing,  and  taught  as  an  assistant  in  the 
public  school  there  in  our  town.  If 
one  should  ask  me  how  I  did  it  I 
could  not  tell,  only  I  know  I  did  it  and 
the  Lord  was  with  me.  I  suppose 
it  was  one  of  the  times  when  “I  can 
do  all  things  through  Christ  which 
strengthened  me,”  Phil.  4:  13. 

There  was  no  hour  in  the  night  too 
cold  or  too  late  but  that  I  was  ready 
at  any  moment  to  administer  to  my 
mother’s  needs.  At  the  end  of  the 
fourth  month  I  returned  to  Shaw,  giv¬ 
ing  papa  what  money  I  had  made,  to 


23 

help  him  and  enable  him  to  hire  some 
one  to  wait  on  mamma  while  I  stayed 
in  school  the  remaining  two  months. 
My  mother’s  sickness  lasted  four 
years,  during  which  time  my  father 
was  not  able  to  do  scarcely  anything 
for  me. 

For  six  successive  years  I  labored 
hard  trying  to  accomplish  that  aim  of 
my  heart.  During  this  time  I  had  to 
undergo  many  hardships.  Many 
times  would  I  plod  my  way  miles 
through  the  snow  to  and  from  my 
work,  praying  all  the  way  that  God 
would  open  the  way  for  me.  I  need 
not  mention  the  obstacles  thrown  in 
my  way,  for  they  were  many,  but  the 
hand  of  Providence  seemed  to  remove 
them  just  as  I  had  done  all  that  I 
could  do. 

At  one  time  when  it  seemed  that 
the  door  was  almost  closed  to  me,  I 
secured  a  position  as  cook  for  the 
family  of  one  f  the  professors  of  Shaw 
By  this  means  I  got  my  board,  and  my 
father  paid  my  tuition.  But  this  work 
came  sa  near  taking  all  of  my  time 
that  I  had  very  little  time  for  study¬ 
ing. 

The  class  room  work  lasted  from 
8:30  to  1:15,  during  which  time  I 
would  have  from  five  to  six  studies 


24 

to  recite.  The  remainder  of  the  day 
was  spent  in  work,  and  when  could  I 
get  time  to  learn  all  of  these  lessons? 
Ah,  then  it  was  that  every  minute 
meant  something  to  me.  And  after 
using  every  minute  rather  than  go 
before  my  teachers  with  unlearned 
lessons  I  would  get  permission  from 
the  Matron  to  get  up  before  day  to 
study.  And  many  times  from  two  to 
five  A.  M.,  I  would  study  with  all 
earnestness  and  then  retire  at  five  to 
get  one  more  hour’s  sleep. 

For  the  six  years  that  I  have  spoken 
of  I  had  not  been  permitted  to  remain 
in  school  one  entire  session  at  a  time. 
With  a  very  earnest  heart  I  had  been 
praying  to  God  to  remain  in  school  an 
entire  session,  and  God,  through  His 
servant,  had  answered  this  prayed.  For 
after  every  possible  effort  on  my  part 
had  been  put  forth  during  the  summer 
to  secure  means  that  I  might  return 
to  school  and  had  failed,  then  it  was 
that  I  was  told  that  friends  in  Boston 
had  heard  of  my  efforts  through  Dr. 
Meserve  and  had  sent  the  money  on 
to  Shaw  to  pay  my  expense  for  my 
last  two  years  in  school. 

Can  any  of  you  imagine  how  thank¬ 
ful  I  was  when  this  news  was  told  to 
me?  My  gratitude  to  them  and  God 


25 

I  can  never  tell  in  words,  but  I  mean 
to  give  my  life  for  others  to  prove 
my  gratefulness  to  those  who  so  kindly 
helped  me.  Thus  at  the  age  of  twen¬ 
ty-four,  in  the  year  1900,  I  graduated 
from  the  Scientific  Department  at 
Shaw  University. 

The  same  year  I  was  appointed 
teacher  at  the  Howe  University,  Mem¬ 
phis,  Tenn.  Here  I  remained  two 
years,  and  was  asked  to  take  a  posi¬ 
tion  as  teacher  in  the  New  Bern  Col¬ 
legiate  Industrial  Institute.  After  I 
had  taught  here  one  year  the  presi¬ 
dent  decided  that  he  needed  a  help¬ 
meet,  and  I  thought  it  a  wise  decision, 
so  in  July,  1903,  the  president  and  I 
were  united  in  the  bonds  of  holy  mat¬ 
rimony.  Then  our  forces  were  more 
concentrated  on  the  one  thing,  and 
that  was  to  give  our  life  to  make  this 
school  a  success.  That  the  people  in 
this  section  might  have  the  privilege 
of  a  school  where  they  could  be  taught 
how  to  become  industrious  Christian 
men  and  women. 

Now  I  want  to  say  that  it  is  not  an 
easy  task  to  be  in  the  founding  of  an 
institution,  nor  is  it  like  going  to 
heaven  on  flowery  beds  of  ease.  For, 
for  the  last  four  years  I  have  carried 
forward  a  plan  to  raise  money  to  help 


26 

defray  the  running  expenses  of  the 
school.  For  about  a  month  and  a  half, 
either  in  November  or  January,  every 
day  when  the  weather  is  fit,  beside 
teaching,  I  canvass  the  entire  city, 
taking  in  just  so  much  each  day.  Oh, 
then  it  is  that  I  walk  until  with  tired 
and  sore  feet  I  feel  almost  disposed 
to  give  up,  when  this  thought  comes 
to  me,  “I’ll  bear  the  toil,  endure  the 
pain  supported  by  thy  word.”  ’  And 
wit  hall  the  strength  that  is  left  and 
a  double  determination  I  press  for¬ 
ward  until  the  task  is  complete. 

And  by  these  unyielding  efforts  we 
have  succeeded  in  raising  ordinary 
sums  to  help  defray  the  expenses  and 
also  in  securing  pledges  from  some 
who  promise  to  be  annual  donors  to 
the  work  as  long  as  it  is  wisely  and 
executively  run.  These  signs  make 
us  feel  and  know  that  we  have  God’s 
benediction  in  the  work.  And  though 
I  have  not  the  money  to  give  to  this 
work,  if  I  will  give  my  prayers,  works, 
and  myself,  God  will  cause  those  who 
have  the  money  to  give  to  this  work 
that  it  may  go  on  blessing  the  people 
of  this  section  and  accomplishing  its 
mission  for  which  it  was  founded. 

Now  that  my  story  is  about  to  come 
to  an  end,  I  feel  like  saying,  “All  the 


27 


way  my  Saviour  has  led  me”  and  the 
hardships  which  I  have  had  to  under¬ 
go  have  been  a  means  of  preparing 
me  for  this  very  work  in  which  I  am 
now  engaged. 

And  like  the  river  whose  water  is 
used  for  irrigating  purposes  distrib¬ 
utes  itself  into  hundreds  of  channels, 
pouring  itself  out  upon  the  thirsty 
ground,  causing  it  to  blossom  and  re¬ 
joice.  But  where  is  the  river  now?  It 
is  lost,  gone.  Its  self-life  has  been 
surrendered.  Its  channel  is  empty  and 
dry.  But  it  lives  again  in  the  fruitage 
of  hundreds  of  fields.  The  harvest  of 
many  happy  farmers  are  garnered  be¬ 
cause  the  river  gave  itself. 

It  is  ever  true  that  sacrifice  is  the 
price  of  service. 

In  saving  others  one  cannot  save 
himself. 


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